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Defendant in a Private Claim Filed under the Insurance Fraud Prevention Act Found Entitled to a Jury Trial

By on August 21, 2015 in Blog, NJ Litigation with 0 Comments

Under the Insurance Fraud Prevention Act (“IFPA”), an insurance company may sue to recover compensatory damages against those who commit insurance fraud. In Allstate Insurance Co. v. Lajara, 2015 N.J. LEXIS 797 (2015), Allstate sue 63 defendants alleging violations of the IFPA. It claimed that the defendants (doctors, billing companies, employees and shareholders of these companies) engaged in a broad scheme to defraud Allstate of $8.14 million in personal injury benefits. The issue in the Lajara case was whether the defendants were entitled to a jury trial.

The trial court and the Appellate Division found that there was no right to a jury trial. The defendants appealed to the New Jersey Supreme Court. The Supreme Court examined whether this right was implicit in the statutory scheme or, alternatively, was mandated under the New Jersey Constitution.

Allstate argued that the IFPA did not specifically provide the right to a jury trial within the statute and, thus, the legislature did not intend to give this right to any defendants sued under this statute. Further, it claimed that the remedies under this law are equitable in nature, which are not constitutionally entitled to a jury trial.

The Supreme Court pointed out that the right to a jury trial is deeply rooted in the English common law and traces its origins as far back as the Magna Carta. This common law tradition was carried over to the American colonies and became a fundamental right. The New Jersey Constitution does contain the right to a jury trial. However, it was never intended to guarantee a right to a jury trial in all civil cases. Rather, the right applies to only claims that are based in law, rather than in equity. Those claims that seek relief in the form of monetary damages, as opposed to equitable relief (such as an injunction) would be “legal” versus  “equitable” claims.

The remedies available to an insurance company for a violation of the IFPA are compensatory damages, treble damages, attorneys fees and costs.  Hence, the relief available to an insurance company under this Act is legal in nature.

The Supreme Court also likened a claim under the IFPA to a common law fraud claim, under which a defendant does have the right to a jury trial. Although its elements are not perfectly aligned, the Court stated that is not necessary to trigger this right.

Hence, it concluded that the Legislature did not intend that in an IFPA action would be inconsistent with the rights granted under our State Constitution. Because the Legislature provided for legal remedies in this statute, it can be inferred that it intended to authorize a jury trial. Thus, it reversed the Appellate Division and remanded the matter back to the trial court for a jury trial.

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About the Author

About the Author:

Betsy G. Ramos, Esq. is an Executive Committee Member and Co-Chair of the Litigation Department at Capehart Scatchard, P.A. located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, Ms. Ramos is an experienced litigator with over 30 years’ experience handling diverse matters. Her practice areas include tort defense, business litigation, estate litigation, tort claims and civil rights defense, construction litigation, insurance coverage, employment litigation, shareholder disputes, and general litigation.

Ms. Ramos was selected to the “New Jersey Super Lawyer” list (2005; 2009-2024 in the area of Business Litigation). Only 5% of attorneys are selected to “Super Lawyers” through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation. The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. For a description of the “Super Lawyers” selection methodology, please visit https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html

For the years 2020-2024, Ms. Ramos was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list in the practice area of Litigation - Insurance. This award is conferred by Best Lawyers. The attorneys on this list are selected based upon the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. A complete description of The Best Lawyers in America® methodology can be viewed via their website at https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology.

In 2021, Capehart Scatchard and Ms. Ramos received the “Best Law Firm” ranking in the area of Litigation – Insurance (Metro, Tier 3) published by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®. Law firms included on the list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must have at least one attorney who has been included in the current edition of Best Lawyers in America, which recognizes the top five percent of practicing lawyers in the United States. Betsy Ramos (Litigation – Insurance) was recognized for this prestigious award in the 2021 edition. For a description of the “Best Law Firm” selection methodology please visit https://shorturl.at/ahlQ7
“Best Law Firms” is published by Best Lawyers in partnership with U.S. News & World Report. For a description of the selection methodology please visit https://shorturl.at/ahlQ7

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